Charles Leclerc touched in on his rivalry with Max Verstappen in their karting days, admitting their “hate” levels were reciprocal, but now things have changed.
The 2022 Formula 1 Championship leader admitted during the press conference in Imola, that he and the Dutchman hated each other while competing in karting.
The pair find themselves fighting again this year, but for the F1 Championship this time around, but things have been civilized between them up to now.
Asked about his rivalry with Verstappen in an interview with ESPN, Leclerc said: “I treat every rival that I have differently.
“The more you know them, the more you know what their weaknesses are and what their strengths are and you try to adapt to every driver, so yes I do. But it is very different to the fight we had in karting,” he added.
When referred to his “hate” comment at Imola, the Ferrari driver responded: “In karting, we were there for the win, but we were also very young and we took things in a different way with a lot of anger, I remember.
“I hated him as much as he hated me at that time, but now we are grown up we are a lot more mature, we respect each other and we have both achieved a dream to be driving in F1,” Leclerc insisted.
“There is a lot of mutual respect, which is great to see,” he went on. “I’m pretty sure that when there are only five races left to the end [of the year], if we are still in the position we are in now fighting for the championship, things will get more tense, but that’s the way it is and that’s how racing is.
“That’s why I love this sport so much, so we will see,” the 24-year-old revealed.
A really good feeling fighting for the Championship
Ferrari have come up with a great car this year in the form of the impressive F1-75, and Leclerc has put it to good use as he leads the Championship scoring two wins and two pole positions in four races, the Ferrari ace faultless except for his error in Imola two weeks ago.
Asked how it feels to be fighting for the Title, Leclerc said: “It feels really good, first of all, especially after the last few years that have been very difficult for the whole team.
“We have been struggling a lot with performance, and to be fighting for sixth, eighth and tenth place, even if you are doing the perfect job, it is difficult for a team like Ferrari and for myself, so to be back at the top feels amazing.
“Whether it feels any different to what I experienced before getting to Formula One, not really,” the Monegasque reflected. “Of course you have a bit more pressure and expectations, but that doesn’t change much for me.
“The approach is the same as I had back in the past,” Leclerc insisted.